India, March 27 -- Lewis Hamilton said he finished a recent morning training run and returned to his hotel, sweating after his workout, to find a few fellow Formula 1 drivers just getting up.

"I know that none of the drivers I'm racing against have trained as hard as I have and given it what I have, especially at my age as well," the 41-year-old Hamilton said Thursday at the Suzuka Formula 1 circuit in central Japan, site of Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

"I love that - that I still have that drive to push myself," he added.

Not that he needed a boost. Hamilton is Formula 1's most decorated driver. He's won the most races (105), claimed the most poles (104) and has been on the podium 207 times.

And the British driver is tied at seven w...